— Mat Cauthon
- For other uses of the word "Caemlyn," see Caemlyn.
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| Setting: Caemlyn |
Summary[]
- Point of view: Matrim Cauthon
Mat and Thom arrive at Caemlyn. Mat wants to deliver the letter from Elayne right away but Thom says they should go to the Queen's Blessing to get a meal and a bed first. Mat vaguely remembers the Queen's Blessing and how Moiraine had found Rand and him there after having previously been separated.[1] He's happy to be free of Moiraine now, she's Rand's problem. Mat tells Thom to go on to the inn by himself and he will go to the palace first. Thom warns Mat not to get lost, but it is easy to get to the palace because it is at the center of the city and the streets all spiral in on it. Mat tries to explain his errand to the gate officer, but the officer interrupts Mat and won't let him finish his explanation. The gate officer says he will take no word to the Queen from Tar Valon. When Mat continues to try to explain, the gate officer accuses Mat of being a Darkfriend and commands the guards to seize him. Mat rides away and barely escapes the guards.
Mat is annoyed at himself for mentioning Tar Valon first instead of just saying he has a letter from Elayne. He doesn't know why the palace is so against Tar Valon now, they weren't before. Mat finds the Queen’s Blessing after some wandering, seeking out Thom and Basel Gill. Basel and Thom are playing stones. Basel says Lord Gaebril has replaced half the guards in Caemlyn with those of his own and that Gareth Bryne has been forced out of the city. For luck, Mat rolls the dice and gets five single pips - the Dark One's Eyes. He's just not sure whether that is the best or worst roll as it depends on the game being played. Mat plans to sneak into the palace and deliver the letter directly to the Queen, as the longer he holds the letter the more dangerous it will be for him.